Holder for letter-files



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. F. HURD.

HOLDER FOR LETTER EI-LEs.

No. 407,011. Patented July 16, 1889.

' WITNESSES.

QM y @Wzz (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. F. HURD.

HOLDER FOR LETTER FILES.

No. 407,011. Patented July 16, 1889.

M ATTORNEYS INVENTOR N. PETERS. Phowmhogm mr. Wa-hingtnn. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUCIUS F. HURD, OF LEE, MASSACHUSETTS.

HOLDER FOR LETTER-FILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,011, dated July 16, 1889.

Application filed November 6,1888. Serial No. 290,114. (No model.)

To all whom, it Duty concern:

Be it known that I, LUoIUs F. IIURD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lee, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Holder for Letter-Files, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a letter or bill file case or box with aholding or retaining attachment of such a character that it is adapted to receive and hold a number of different forms of binding devices for the indexed sheets.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a letter or bill file case or box, shown open and with the indexed sheets in place ready for the reception of the letters, bills, or other documents to be filed away. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, drawn to a larger scale, showing my improved retainer with a detachable binding-pin. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same with the pin locked in place and a portion of the case and leaves or sheets of the file in section. Fig. l is a perspective view, partly in section, of my improved retainer, showing another form of binder with its leaves in position in the holder. Fig. 5 is a side View of my retainer with a port-ion of the casein section, showing still another form of binder for the leaves in position in the holder.

In the drawings I have shown my improved retainer as adapted to be combined with three well-known forms of binding or uniting devices for the indexed leaves or sheets, and it is also so constructed that it will not interfere with the use in the case of indexed leaves without means for uniting them together.

In Fig. 1, A represents any well-known form of filing case or box with a hinged side or top lid (0, and a hinged flap 1), while D represents the series of indexed leaves or sheets between which the letters, bills, or other documents are to be filed away. In this figure I have represented a pin 6 in a recess in the back of the case as a means of loosely binding or uniting the indexed leaves together, this pin passing through elongated openings in the tabs (1, fastened to the backs of the several leaves or sheets; but, as will be hereinafter seen, my improved retainer is so constructed that it may be used with other forms of devices for uniting or binding the indexed leaves together. I prefer to constructmy improved retainer of sheet metal. The body is to be secured to the inside back of the case by suitable screws, nails, or other fastening devices in the upright position shown in Fig. 2. This retainer F has at one end a bent footpiece F, which in this instance is at the bottom of the case when the latter lies flat. A portion of this foot-piece is so raised as to form a shoulder f, and consequently a groove 01' recess f, between this shoulder and the body or back of the retainer. In the elevated portion of this footpieee is formed a crossshaped slot g, for the purpose hereinafter described.

At the opposite or upper end of the retainer F is formed a top piece F which has in it a central notch 71., which is slightly widened out at its open end, as shown in Fig. 2. To the upper side of this top piece F I pivot or hinge a handled retaining-catch II, of such a character that by swinging it around in the direction of the arrow it can be made to close the open end of the notch h. Innuediately over the top of this notch and at a suitable distance above it is a bent retainingfinger h, for a purpose explained hereinafter.

The top piece F of the retainer is also provided on its under side with a spring catch or catches 7L2, leaving between their ends and the body of the retainer a space about equal to the width of the groove f at the bottom of the retainer, for a purpose hereinafter de scribed. For the purpose of economical construction these catches 7L2 may be formed by cutting or stamping them up from the body of the metal, in the manner which will be readily understood on reference to Fig. 2.

If the indexed leaves or sheets to be filed away are of that well-known form in which they have perforated tabs at their rear edges for the passing of a retaining-pin through them, as shown in Fig. 1, the retaining-pin is made of the character shown in Fig. 2, and is combined therewith in the manner which I will now explain. This retaining-pin e,Figs.

2 and 3, is made with a T-head or other suitably-shaped head 6 at one end, and, either before or after being passed through the open ings in the tabs on the indexed leaves, its T- head is inserted into the cross-shaped slot 'at the bottom of the retainer F by holding the retainer at an angle, passing the T-head through the corresponding portion of the cross-slot, and then turning the pin up to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and by full lines in Fig. 3, so that the upper end of the pin will rest in the enlarged open end of the notch h at the top of the retainer. The

diameter of the pin at that point is such that it will not pass to the bottom of the slot, but is held firmly in the enlarged portion of the slot by turning the catch H, so as to close the open end of the notch. If the indexed leaves did not have their tabs passed over the retaining-pin e before the T-head of the latter was passed into the cross-slot,

' they should be passed over the pin, of course,

4 is that illustrated in Fig. 41' I sists of an elongated link or slotted plate K,

before the latter is locked 'in the retainer, as shown in Fig. 3. Another well-known form of binding device for these loose leaves This con-' having one leg passing through slotted'tabs at the rear edges of the sheets. The lower end of this link or plate is inserted i'n the portion of the cross-slot g at right angles to the back of the retainer F, as shown in Fig. 4, while the upper end of the link or plate enters the narrow portion of the notch h and is locked in position by throwing the catch H around to close the open end of the notch.

' The bent arm h over the top of the retainer e holder by putting its lower end in the groove f in the foot-piece of the holder F, while its corresponding upper end is pushed under and behind the spring-catches IL2 on the top piece of the retainer, as will be readily understood on reference to Fig. 5.

It will thus be seen that my improved retainer can be applied to boxes intended for the reception of different Well-known forms of indexed filing-sheets, and that any of those forms of filing-sheets may be readily and conveniently put in place or removed, as desired. It will be evident that the form of my 1'e tainer does not interfere with the use in the case or filing-box containing it of loose leaves unprovided with any means of uniting them together.

I claim as my invention 1. A retainer for the leaves of a filing-case, said retainer having at one end a crossshaped slot and having at the other a notch with a lockingcatch.

2. A retainer for the leaves of a filing-case, provided with a foot-piece having a raised portion containinga cross-shaped slot and a top piece with a notch anda locking-catch.

3. A retainer for the leaves of a filing-case, having a foot-piece and a raised portion, leaving a groove behind itcontaining a crossshaped slot, in combination witha top piece having a notch and locking-catch therefor and spring-catches on its under side.

4. A retainer for the leaves of a filing-case,

having a slotted foot pi ece, a notched top piece with a locking-catch, and a holdingdown finger.

5. A combination of a detachable headed pinwith a retainer havingafoot-pieee provided with a cross-shaped slot, and a'top piece provided with a notch and alocking-eatch.

6. A retainer for the leaves of a filing-case, having a slotted foot-piece, and atop piece with a notch widened at its open' end, and having a locking-catch for thisnotch.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUCIUS F. ,HURD.

Witnesses:

EDITH J. GRIs oLD, JOHN REVELL. 

